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1-Edmonton Oilers- Nail Yakupov, RW Sarnia (OHL) 5' 10" 175
The Oilers take the player that everyone thinks is the best player in the draft. Nail Gives the Oilers another game breaker who can score in the blink of an eye.
2-Columbus Blue Jackets- Ryan Murray, D Everett (WHL) 6' 0" 185
After striking out on Russians in past years, The Blue Jackets take the safest player out of all stud defenceman. Murray solidifies the Jackets D for years to come.
3-Montreal Canadiens- Mikhail Grigorenko, C/RW Quebec (QMJHL) 6' 2.5" 183
Montreal takes the player who may have the highest ceiling in the entire draft. Grigorenko will add size and skill to the Canadiens.
4-New York Islanders- Matthew Dumba, D Red Deer (WHL) 5' 11" 165
Never afraid to go off the board, the Isles take the player the “I” consider to be the best player in the draft. Dumba may be a tad small, but he has the skating, leadership, and work ethic to overcome that.
5-Toronto Maple Leafs- Alex Galchenyuk, C Sarnia (OHL) 6' 1" 186
Ranked number one by a few people, the Leafs get their number one centre to build around. Galchenyuk should be a good one.
6-Anaheim Ducks- Teuvo Teravainen, RW Jokerit Helsinki (SM-liiga) 5' 10" 157
The second “off the board” type pick of the draft goes to the Ducks. Teravainen just needs to get stronger and he will be a first line, game breaker that will become the Ducks new “Finnish Flash”.
7-Minnesota Wild- Olli Maatta, D London (OHL) 6' 2" 198
After an outstanding OHL playoffs, Maatta jumps up into the top 10. The Wild like their Fins and Maatta’s solid two-way style will help the Wild’s D.
8-Carolina Hurricanes- Radek Faksa, C Kitchener (OHL) 6' 2" 183
The Canes like to take forwards and they like the Kitchener organization. Faksa has drawn comparisons to Eric Staal because of his size and skill.
9-Winnipeg Jets- Filip Forsberg, LW Leksands (Allsvenskan) 6' 1" 176
Slipping a little on draft day, the Jets gab a player n Forsberg who is top 5 to some people. While he isn’t the flashiest player in the draft, Forsberg is a player who does a lot well.
10-Tampa Bay Lightning- Morgan Rielly, D Moose Jaw (WHL) 6' 0" 190
Yzerman likes skill players and Rielly is that. Rielly make the Bolts D better and could probably step in next year. I wonder if this pick is in play for a goalie? It would be great to keep Rielly in his hometown.
11-Washington Capitals (from Col)- Griffin Reinhardt, D Edmonton (WHL) 6' 4" 202
Reinhart is too talented for the Caps to pass on. Reinhart brings everything that you want in a D. He has size, skill, smarts, and poise.
12-Buffalo Sabres- Jacob Trouba, D US-Under-18 (NTDP) 6' 1" 196
The Sabres take the best player available in Trouba. Trouba is a solid two-way D, who may be able to play next year.
13-Dallas Stars- Tom Wilson, RW Plymouth (OHL) 6' 4" 194
The Stars like their big power forwards and Wilson may be the truest of the power forwards in the draft. While he’ll need at least another year to develop, Wilson is a good fit for the Stars system.
14-Calgary Flames- Zemgus Girgensons, C Dubuque (USHL) 6' 2.25" 195
The Flames need skill and scoring and they get that in Girgensons. Girgensons plays a solid all-around game and in some ways reminds me of Toews.
15-Ottawa Senators- Cody Ceci, D Ottawa 67's (OHL) 6' 3" 203
The Sens take the hometown kid and make him and their fans happy. Ceci is likely the best player left on the board at this point. A Cowen/Ceci duo could become the best shutdown pair in the NHL.
16-Washington Capitals- Brendan Gaunce, C Belleville (OHL) 6' 2" 205
The Caps take a bit of a project here selecting the big Bellville centre. Gaunce has all the tools to be a 1A or 2 centre if he puts it all together.
17-San Jose Sharks- Derrick Pouliot, D Portland (WHL) 6' 0" 192
The Sharks need to start re-building on D and Pouliot is a good place to start. Pouliot is a smart, good skating D who would become the Sharks number one defensive prospect.
18-Chicago Blackhawks- Oscar Dansk, G Brynas IF (SEL) 6' 2" 185
While the Hawks don’t have a desperate need for a goalie right away, Dansk isn’t too far away. The big Swede may be the best goalie in the draft and could be ready in two years.
19-Tampa Bay Lightning (from Detroit)- Andrei Vasilevski, G Ufa (KHL) 6' 3" 193
Dropping because of the Russian factor, the Lightning take the Goaltender who may be the most NHL ready. Vasilevski would likely be ready to play 30 games after a year in the AHL.
20-Philadelphia Flyers- Brady Skjei, D US-Under-18 (USAH-NTDP) 6' 1" 183
The Flyers generally don’t draft D, but Skjei is too good to pass on at this point in the draft. Skjei has good size and is an excellent skater
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21-Buffalo Sabres (from Nash)- Sebastian Collberg, RW Frolunda (SEL) 5' 11" 174
The Sabres need a game breaker, and Collberg has that type of potential. The Swede can flat out fly and is dangerous whenever he gets the puck.
22-Pittsburgh Penguins- Tanner Pearson, LW Barrie (OHL) 6' 0" 192
In need of wingers, the Pens snag the overage scorer in Pearson. The OHL’s third leading scorer could likely step right in to the Pens lineup.
23-Florida Panthers- Martin Frk, RW Halifax (QMJHL) 6' 0.5" 198
The Panthers take a player that some considered a top 10 pick when the season started. Tallon likes gritty, skilled, physical players and Frk is that.
24-Boston Bruins- Matt Finn, D Guelph (OHL) 6' 0" 195
Boston takes the best player on the board in Finn. Finn is an excellent two-way defencman that will help the bruins in the future.
25-St. Louis Blues- Colton Sissons, C/RW Kelowna (WHL) 6' 1" 182
The Blues like two-way, character guys and Sissons has a ton of that. The kid is a coach’s dream and a player that will be a nice fit in Hitch’s system.
26-Vancouver Canucks- Pontus Aberg, LW Djurgardens (SEL) 5' 11" 187
The Canucks head to Sweden once again and take one of the biggest sleepers in the draft. Aberg has the speed, skill, and fiery attitude to be a good one.
27- Phoenix Coyotes- Andreas Athanasiou, LW London (OHL) 6' 0" 165
After a long playoff run, the Yotes have time to wait on their pick. Athanasiou has the speed and skill to be a very good player. At the start of the year he was flat out unreal against kids his own age. Strength and consistency are all he needs to be a star.
28- New Jersey Devils- Hampus Lindholm, D Rogle (Allsvenskan) 6' 3" 185
The Devils like going to Sweden in the first round, and if they choose to pick, they go there again. Lindholm is a project, but players his size, that can skate like him are too good to pass on at this point in the draft.
29- Columbus Blue Jacket (from LA)- Phillip Di Giuseppe, LW Michigan 6' 0" 190
The Blue Jackets play it safe and take a very good two-way player in Di Giuseppe. Di Giuseppe will likely never be a huge scorer, but he should be able to contribute fairly soon.
30- New York Rangers- Brian Hart, RW Phillips Exeter Academy 6' 1" 195
The Rangers round out the first round by going off the board a little. Hart is an outstanding athlete who can fly and has a rocket for a shot. While he is a project still, Hart could be one of the top ten players in the draft because of his raw talent.
Who do people want Vancouver to select?
And that’s the blog for today.
See you on the message boards.
Thank you
Ian
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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